Cost of living? 33% higher?

Hello Kristi,

What is the salary figure you are expecting? Have you budgeted out your set expenses (loans ect.) and then figured out rent/car/food cost for STT to see what you end up with?

--Islander

Well...
Right now I make 24,900. I am a teacher in Tampa, Fl. The job I am looking at pays 24,000...but I am going to bargain for more 🙂
I own my car, so I just need to figure out cost of transporting it (which I believe is about $2000) and insurance. Is insurance more or about the same on STT? Then rent...right now I live in a more expensive community where the prices of apartments seem comparable to the prices on STT. One bedrooms starting at $700.
I am just worried about the cost of living when I am there, you know buying milk...eggs...normal everyday supplies. And the cost of relocating. Do companies on STT when they hire people from the mainland expect to help them get there...or is it they offer you the job and say you start on Monday...see you when you get here? I have not had a chance to ask my potential employers becuase I am still in the application phase. But I don't want to get too excited if I get the job and find out I can't afford to go...
thanks in advance for all your help Islander....
Kristi

Christi
If you can do it in Florida, you can do it here. Check out this website and get the "Settlers Handbook". You will find that food is somewhat more expensive, but some things ,like gasoline, are no more (or maybe less on STX).

You can share housing which will save you some. The "move" itself, will be your biggest out of pocket expense. You will hear all sorts of cost estimates for transporting your vehicle. Shop around, ask lots of questions and come back to this board...you will get lots of help.

I paid $960 to have a standard size pickup truck sent down by Crowley. I don't know about financial assistance in moving. My guess is that it's fairly rarely, and most schools are pretty straped for cash, but ask.

Are there ways to simplify your life and cut down on expenses? Can you work a part-time job on the side? If you're in science, you may be able to get on-and-off side work at a place like the University of the Virgin Islands, perhaps helping a PhD candidate complete a dissertation that involves field research. Here's the phone book: www.viphonebook.com

Part-time job will probably be the way that I go...thanks for the info. Bartending financed my college education, so worse off I can always fall back on that for some extra cash.
I also heard that you could pack your car full of stuff for when you ship it? And that will save on shipping personal items? Anyone ever done this?
Also cost of airline tickets? $435 bucks? Wow that is alot! I know I would like to visit mainland at least once a year....what is the cheapest way to find a ticket?

Krisit,

In responce to you message.. If you ship yout vehicle with crowley I think you will find they do not allow any additional packaging in your car. If you ship with tropical you are allowed a max. of 30 cubic foot in your car/truck. We are shipping with tropical in 2 weeks. 30 Cubic foot is allowing me to flat pack my small 4 place dining table and chairs. My electric piano and stand and the childrens night stands (FLAT PACKED).

Airline tickets.. Have you tryed orbitz.com I have got a price of $240 one way from VA There are 2 stops but I think I can cope with that...!!

My husband is having to fly direct from NC as we are transporting pets and he is obviously having to pay alot more for the convenience....$575

Good Luck Sweetie...